Batch weighing machine

ABSTRACT

This is a batch weighing machine which automatically weighs successive batches of material and thereafter discharges each batch into a container pre-positioned to receive the same. The weighing apparatus is particularly constructed to use a conventional scale for the weighing operation.

United States Patent 1 Leach June 12, 1973 BATCH WEIGHING MACHINE [75]Inventor: Rex J. Leach, Moorhead, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Paul Horn Farms, Inc., Moorhead,

Minn.

[22] Filed: Apr. 26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 137,529

[52] US. Cl 53/59 W, 177/52, 177/120 [51] Int. Cl B65b 57/10 [58] Fieldof Search 53/59 W; 177/52,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,516,221 6/1970 Paxton etal 177/120 X 2,889,131 6/1959 Crabh 177/120 2,507,905 5/1950 Hughes53/78 X Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Attorney-John W. Adams [57]ABSTRACT This is a batch weighing machine which automatically weighssuccessive batches of material and thereafter discharges each batch intoa container pre-positioned to receive the same. The weighing apparatusis particularly constructed to use a conventional scale for the weighingoperation.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED J!!!" 2 INVENTOR REX I 4514Clrroxn/sy PATENIED 7 sam'zw v INVENTOR. REX J: 4519C PATENTEDJUM 2 m3srmsnr 2:26 ma EMCEEFE mh 13.3w mokoz a Nb F5016 SE28 INVENTOR REX ILEIGH ,4rromv5rs This invention relates to a batch weighing machineadapted to automatically discharge each batch into a container. Theparticular embodiment of my invention disclosed herein is adaptedparticularly for use with items which are weighed and bagged incomparatively heavy batches, such as the weighing and bagging ofpotatoes or other farm produce with which the one hundred pound batch iscustomary.

The prior art weighing equipment is generally adapted .for weighingbatches of material after delivery into containers by limiting thefilling of the containers to a pre-detennined weight. This equipment isexpensive and cumbersome in that the containers must be adequatelysupported during the filling operation and yet isolated on the weighingequipment so that the true weight is determined. The weighing equipmentfor weighing batches of material on an intermittently driven weighingconveyor system is relatively simple particularly when adapted for usewith a conventional scale construction.

It will be appreciated that empty containers are much more readilyhandled than full containers and that the equipment for handling emptycontainers may be considerably lighter in construction in view of therelatively insignificant weight of containers. In potato handlingequipment, for example, the containers used are large burlap bags andthe handling of such bags while in a full condition requires supportfrom the bottom to keep the bags from being pulled away from thesupporting structure required to hold the mouth of the bag open.Providing an isolated weighing platform which will support a largeburlap bag from both the top and the bottom without limiting theaccuracy of such equipment is difficult and results in cumbersomeequipment.

The present invention weighs batches of material such as potatoes,before placing the weighed batches in containers, such as burlap bags,so that the containers may be handled while empty for the greater partof the process and need only be delivered to an operator of the machineor to further automatic handling once the container is filled andsealed. The embodiment of the present invention, herein disclosed, isused for weighing and bagging potatoes in large lots, such as onehundred pounds. The disclosed apparatus consists of a horizontallydisposed conveyor which forms a weighing platform and which is mountedon a supporting stand which in turn is supported on a conventionalscale. When the pre-determined weight of potatoes has been supplied tothe conveyor forming the weighing platform, it is actuated to deliverthe batch to a bag filling station. The bag filling station is suppliedwith burlap bags by a bag supplying conveyor which is loaded with bagsto be filled at another location. The filling bags are delivered to anoperator of the machine by the bag supplying conveyor advancing as a bagcarrying and supporting conveyor lifts the bottom of the bags upwardlyon an incline so that the operator may remove the bag from thesupporting means on the bag supporting conveyor. One important featureof the invention is the frame structure or supporting stand which isused to support the weighing conveyor on the scale. This supportingstand has a tapered structure descending from the horizontal conveyorplatform to the relatively small scale platform and stands independentlyof the framework supporting the rest of the apparatus.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to make a batch weigherfor weighing material adapted to use a conventional weighing scalemechanism.

It is further an object of this invention to make a batch weigher andbagger which weighs the desired amount of material and then dischargesthe same to a container.

It is yet another object of this invention to make a batch weigher whichuses an horizontally mounted intermittently driven conveyor as aweighing platform and which has a supporting stand to support the sameon a ponventional scale so that weighed batches of material may bedischarged into a container prepositioned at a bag-filling station by acontainer supply conveyor system.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawing wherein like reference characters refer to similarparts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of my invention with portionsbroken away;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 with portionsbroken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the bag supplyconveyor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 3taken substantially along the line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the structureshown in FIG. 3 taken substantially along the line 5-5;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the intermittent driveshown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and,

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the control system for my weighing andbagging machine. I

Referring now to the figures, material such as potatoes to be bagged aredesignated by the reference numeral l0 and are delivered to a conveyor12 which forms a weighing platform or table on which each batch isaccumulated during the weighing operation. Side panels 14 are providedaround the conveyor to keep the potatoes from falling off the conveyor.The conveyor is driven by a motor 16 through a chain or belt linkage 17.The weighing conveyor 12 is mounted on a downwardly tapered stand orframe 18 which is supported on the platform of a conventional weighingscale 20. The scale 20 is a balance beam type having a balance arm 22which operates a switch 24. The weighing conveyor 12 is supported on theplatform of scale 20 so that the entire conveyor and frame structurewill be a free standing unit on the scale platform to permit each batchof potatoes to be weighed. When a predetermined weight of potatoes hasbeen accumulated on conveyor 12 the switch 24 will be closed and theconveyor drive motor 16 actuated. Also mounted on the conveyor 12 is aswitch 25 which is controlled by a lug 25a on the conveyor to stop theconveyor drive motor 16 after each batch of potatoes has beendischarged.

A rigid stationary frame 26 surrounds the weighing platform supportframe 18 and is slightly spaced therefrom to positively prevent theweighing conveyor platform from tipping over as each batch of potatoesis weighed and discharged. A support strut 19 on the frame 18 contactsthe frame 26 if uneven loading causes imbalance of the conveyor andframe unit. The

strut guides the frame 18 to prevent the unit from excessive tilting onthe scale platform.

The potatoes are fed from a supply source 28 to an inclined conveyor 30having a plurality of cross slats 32 which lift potatoes upwardly from ahopper 34 to be discharged onto a relatively short feed conveyor 36. Theconveyor 36 carries the potatoes under a gate 38 which may be a heavyflexible rubber scrap with slits cut therein. The gate is lifted by thepassage of potatoes carried thereunder by the conveyor but will notallow the potatoes to roll freely thereunder unless driven by theconveyor 36. In addition, at the end of the short feed conveyor, avertically adjustable stop-rod 40 is provided to prevent the potatoesfrom falling off the end of the conveyor belt onto the weighing conveyor12 after the conveyor 36 has been stopped. Both conveyors 30 and 36 aredriven through a belt or chain linkage by a motor 42 which is controlledby a control system hereinafter described. A differential drivemechanism 43 is provided so that the short horizontal feed conveyor 36moves at approximately twice the linear speed of the inclined conveyor30. This differential in speed is provided in order to spread out thepotatoes on the feed conveyor 36 thereby spacing the potatoes one fromanother to allow the supply to be quickly stopped when the feed conveyor36 is stopped when each batch has been weighed on the weighing conveyor12 to produce an accurate batch weighing operation.

A bag filling station is provided at the discharge end of the weighingconveyor 12. A hopper 44 is supported on the main frame 26 and directsthe potatoes into the bags 46 which are positioned thereunder by a bagsupplying conveyor 48, also supported by the main frame 26. Bags aresupplied to the bag supplying conveyor at the other end thereof by anoperator. The conveyor 48 carries a plurality of empty bags which areadvanced one by one through the frame 18 disposed below the weighingconveyor 12 into the filling position below the hopper 44 where the bagsare filledwhen the conveyor 12 discharges the pre-weighed batch ofpotatoes. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and the bag supply conveyor 48 consistsof two parallel endless chains 48a having hooks 48b positioned thereonat intervals to support the bags. The hooks 48b are positioned so thateach bag is hooked on four hooks to hold the top of the bag open toreceive the batch of potatoes discharged through hopper 44. A track 48cis provided to support each of the chains 48a. Slide rods 48d and 48fare provided on each track 480 to form a race through which the bags 46extend to mount on the hooks. Rod 48d positively urges the bags on hooks48b. Rod 48f supports the bags in sliding relation in the race. A pairof rubber rollers 48e is provided at the discharge end of the conveyor48. The rollers, in combination with rods 48f which are upturned at theend of the bag conveyor, lift the filled bags off the hooks 48b.

An inclined filled bag supporting conveyor 50 underlies the bags at thefilling station and assists the operator in removing the filled bags.Obviously the bag handling conveyors 21 and 23 are stationary during thefilling operation and as soon as the weighing conveyor has dischargedits weighed batch of potatoes, the bag conveyor is automaticallyactivated to position the next bag under the hopper 44. The bagsupporting conveyor 50 is inclined upwardly to lift the bag to assistthe operator in freeing the bag from the hooks 48b on the bag carryingconveyor. Thus the operator of the machine receives the bag of potatoesfrom the conveyor and need only balance the same as it comes off the endof the conveyor 48.

A motor 52 drives the bag carrying conveyor 48 .and the bag supportingconveyor '50 through an intermittent drive system 53 which advances thebag carrying conveyor 48 at least the width of one bag to discharge thefilled bag and position the next empty bag under the filling hopper 44.The filled bag supporting conveyor is actuated to carry the filled bagaway from the filling position and the intermittent drive system 53moves the next empty bag into filling position under the hopper 44.

The intermittent drive system has a main drive chain 54 driven by themotor 52 through a sprocket 52a. The main drive chain is driven throughone complete circuit for each intermittent drive cycle of operationcorresponding to the filling and delivering of one bag of potatoes. Thestopping of the motor 52 at the end of a cycle is controlled by means ofa single chain link 58 on the left side of the main drive chain 54, asshown in FIG. 2, actuating a switch 56 placed on the main frame 26 andconnected with the control system.

Secured to the inside or right hand of the main chain 54 is a secondarychain segment 60 which intermittently drives the bag carrying conveyor apredetermined relatively short increment. The details of thisarrangement are shown in FIG. 6. This segment provides an intermittentstep-by-step bag advance of approximately one bag at a time for the bagsupporting hooks simultaneously with each longer advance of the bottomsupporting conveyor 50. This allows the bag to travel forward and offthe end of the bag carrying conveyor as the bag is further lifted andmoved toward the operator of the machine.

Two rubber rollers, 60a and 60b, are placed on either side of a sprocket60c driven by the main drive chain 54 so that when the chain segment 60engages and drives a sprocket 60d connected with the bag supportingconveyor it will not cause the drive chain 54 to jump and becomedisengaged or to slip a chain link thereby upsetting the registration ofthe empty bags under the hopper 44.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a control circuit 62 is provided to coordinatethe automatic weighing of batches of potatoes by my invention. The itemspreviously referred to in the drawings are indicated schematically byblocks having the same number as the mechanical components. The weighingconveyor 12 is mechanically connected to the scale 20, the motor 16, andthe switch 25 as previously described. The scale is mechanicallyconnected to a switch 24 which in turn is connected electrically to thecontrol circuit 62. The motor 16 and the switch 25 are also connectedelectrically to the control circuit. The intermittent drive system 53 isconnected mechanically to motor 52 and switch 56 both of which are inturnconnected to the control circuit electrically. The supply conveyor36 is mechanically connected to a motor 32 which is electricallyconnected to the control circuit 62.

In operation, the first function of the machine is to deliver a batch ofpotatoes to the weighing conveyor. Therefore, the supply conveyors 30and 36 are initially actuated and driven by motor 42 to deliver potatoesto the weighing conveyor 12. When the weight of the batch of potatoes onthe conveyor 12 causes the scale 20 to actuate the switch 24 indicatingthat the predetermined weight constituting the batch has been reached,the supply conveyors 30 and 36 are stopped by shutting off the currentto the motor 42. Simultaneously the motor 16, which drives the weighingconveyor, is turned on and the batch of potatoes is discharged throughthe hopper 44 and into a bag which has been placed in filling position.As has been previously described, the weighing conveyor has moved asufficient distance to discharge the pre-weighed batch of potatoes intothe bag. Operation of switch initiates a new cycle of operation bystarting motor 42 and thereby causing the supply conveyors and 36 toagain deliver potatoes onto the weighing conveyor 12 until thepre-determined weight forming a batch has been reached. Simultaneouslywith the weighing of the batch of potatoes the previously filled bag'isdischarged from the machine and a new bag is placed in bag fillingposition underneath the hopper 44 in preparation for the next fillingoperation. Thus at the time the supply conveyor motor 42 is actuated themotor 52 operating the bag supply conveyor 48 and the bag supportingconveyor 50 may be also activated to position an empty bag under thehopper 44 and discharge the filled bag. This operation may be completedbefore the weighing of the new batch of potatoes is completed and theswitch 56 is actuated thereby causing the control circuit to stop themotor 52 and inactivate this portion of the machine. Operation of theswitch 56 is also used as an interlock to prevent the weighing conveyorfrom discharging the weighed batch of potatoes until a new bag has beenplaced in position by the operation of the bag supplying conveyor 48.That is, the batch of potatoes cannot be dumped until the switch 56 hasbeen actuated indicating that a new bag is in position and the old baghas been discharged from the machine.

It will be apparent that my invention offers several advantages over theprior art batch weighing and bagging machines. One of these advantagesis the compactness of the machine which is achieved by delivering thebags to be filled to the bag filling station by means of a conveyorwhich carries the bags through the framework supporting the weighingconveyor 12. In effect, the same space is used for two purposes. Anotheradvantage of my invention is that a minimum number of operators of themachine is required as the principal tasks consist of placing the emptysacks on the machine and removing the filled sacks. The frame structurerequired for the disclosed embodiment of my invention is such that themachine may be easily moved in a short time by a few men. This advantageis achieved in part because the machine has two separate frames whichmay be handled separately.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportion of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, which generally stated,consists in the matter set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

l. A batch weighing machine for weighing successive batches of materialand for automatically discharging each weighed batch, comprising,

a weighing scale having a weighing platform,

a weighing conveyor disposed for receiving material to be weighed andhaving a discharge and from which weighed batches of material aredischarged,

a supporting stand for said conveyor extending downwardly from theconveyor to rest on the scale platform to provide the sole support forsaid conveyor and the material thereon,

means for driving said weighing conveyor,

control means responsive to said scale for actuating said conveyor drivemeans when a batch of material having a predetermined weight has beensupplied to said conveyor to discharge said batch from said conveyor,

a container conveyor system for positioning a container at the dischargeend of said conveyor for receiving weighed batches of material, saidsystem including,

a pair of endless chains disposed in parallel relation, a pair of 5guide trackes for supporting and confining said chains, i a plurality ofbag supporting hooks mounted on said endless chains,

at least one guide rod mounted on each guide track so slidingly supportbags during advancement on said conveyor and so disposed as topositively urge bags on said hooks,

a pair of rollers mounted at the end of said conveyor to positively liftthe bags from said hooks at the end of travel of the conveyor, and Lmeans for driving said container conveyor.

2. A batch weighing machine for weighing successive batches of materialand for automatically discharging each weighed batch, comprising,

a weighing scale having a weighing platform,

a weighing conveyor disposed for receiving material to be weighed andhaving a discharge end from which weighed batches of material aredischarged,

a supporting stand for said conveyor extending downwardly from theconveyor to rest on the scale platform to provide the sole support forsaid conveyor and the material thereon,

means for driving said weighing conveyor,

control means responsive to said scale for actuating said conveyor drivemeans when a batch of material having a pre-determined weight has beensupplied to said conveyor to discharge said batch from said conveyor,

a container supplying conveyor system for successively placing andholding containers at the discharge end of said weighing conveyor assuccessive batches of material are placed therein,

a container supporting conveyor disposed at the discharge end of saidweighing conveyor for receiving and supporting containers as successivebatches of material are placed therein and for delivering said containerto an operator of the machine,

a motor,

an intermittent drive mechanism connected with said motor driving saidcontainer supporting conveyor intermittently at least the width of onecontainer to position an empty container at the discharge end of saidweighing conveyor and deliver a filled container out of filling positionand for driving said container bottom supporting conveyor a furtherdistance to deliver said filled container to an operator of the machinein cooperation with said supporting conveyor, and

said intermittent drive mechanism driving said container supportingconveyor at a greater rate of speed than said container supplyingconveyor.

3. A batch weighing machine for weighing successive batches of materialand for automatically discharging each weighed batch, comprising,

a weighing scale having a weighing platform,

a weighing conveyor disposed for receiving material to be weighed andhaving a discharge end from which weighed batches of material aredischarged,

a supporting stand for said conveyor extending downwardly from theconveyor to rest on the scale platform to provide the sole support forsaid conveyor and the material thereon,

means for driving said weighing conveyor,

control means responsive to said scale for actuating said conveyor drivemeans when a batch of material having a pre-determined weight has beensupplied to said conveyor to discharge said batch from said conveyor, I

container supplying conveyor system for successively placing and holdingcontainers at the discharge end of said weighing conveyor as successivebatches of material are placed therein,

container supporting conveyor disposed at the discharge end of saidweighing conveyor for receiving and supporting containers as successivebatches of material are placed therein and for delivering said containerto an operator of the machine,

a motor,

an intermittent drive mechanism connected with said motor driving saidcontainer supporting conveyor intermittently at least the width of onecontainer to position an empty container at the discharge end of saidweighing conveyor and deliver a filled container out of filling positionand for driving said container bottom supporting conveyor a furtherdistance to deliver said filled container to an operator of the machinein cooperation with said supporting conveyor,

said intermittent drive mechanism comprising,

an endless chain,

a drive sprocket for said chain,

a driven sprocket for said chain for driving the continuously drivencontainer bottom supporting conveyor thereby,

a chain segment mounted on said endless chain in adjacent relationshipto the drive engagement portion of said chain,

a pair of guide rollers mounted on either side of said driven sprocketto positively prevent the endless chain from jumping off said drivensprocket, and

a driven sprocket for engagement with said chain segment mountedadjacent to said chain driven sprocket for intermittently driving thecontainer supplying conveyor.

4. In combination with a platform type floorsupported scale, a batchweighing and bag filling machine for weighing successive batches ofmaterial and for automatically discharging each weighed batch into a bagsupported on a conveyor, comprising,

a weighing scale having a weighing platform,

a weighing conveyor disposed for receiving material to be weighed andhaving a discharge end from which weighed batches of material aredischarged,

a supporting stand for said conveyor extending downwardly from theconveyor to rest on the scale platform to provide the sole support forsaid conveyor and the material thereon,

means for driving said conveyor,

control means responsive to said scale for actuating said conveyor drivemeans when a batch of material having a pre-determined weight has beensupplied to said conveyor to discharge said batch from said conveyor,

said supporting stand constituting a substantially inverted U-shapedframe structure positioning said weighing conveyor at a substantialelevation above the platform of said scale,

a container supplying conveyor system disposed under said weighingconveyor extending through the clear space provided by said invertedU-shaped supporting stand and supported independently thereof fortransporting containers from a container loading station to thedischarge end of the weighing conveyor.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 and a feed conveyor deliveringmaterial to said weighing conveyor and a fixed stop member extendingacross the width of the feed conveyor and having the upper edge spaced apre-determined distance above the discharge end of said feed conveyor torestrict the flow of material therefrom and positively stop thedischarge of material being fed onto said weighing conveyor when thefeed conveyor is stopped.

1. A batch weighing machine for weighing successive batches of materialand for automatically discharging each weighed batch, comprising, aweighing scale having a weighing platform, a weighing conveyor disposedfor receiving material to be weighed and having a discharge end fromwhich weighed batches of material are discharged, a supporting stand forsaid conveyor extending downwardly from the conveyor to rest on thescale platform to provide the sole support for said conveyor and thematerial thereon, means for driving said weighing conveyor, controlmeans responsive to said scale for actuating said conveyor drive meanswhen a batch of material having a predetermined weight has been suppliedto said conveyor to discharge said batch from said conveyor, a containerconveyor system for positioning a container at the discharge end of saidconveyor for receiving weighed batches of material, said systemincluding, a pair of endless chains disposed in parallel relation, apair of guide trackes for supporting and confining said chains, ''''aplurality of bag supporting hooks mounted on said endless chains,'''' atleast one guide rod mounted on each guide track so slidingly supportbags during advancement on said conveyor and so disposed as topositively urge bags on said hooks, a pair of rollers mounted at the endof said conveyor to positively lift the bags from said hooks at the endof travel of the conveyor, and means for driving said containerconveyor.
 2. A batch weighing machine for weighing successive batches ofmaterial and for automatically discharging each weighed batch,comprising, a weighing scale having a weighing platform, a weighingconveyor disposed for receiving material to be weighed and having adischarge end from which weighed batches of material are discharged, asupporting stand for said conveyor extending downwardly from theconveyor to rest on the scale platform to provide the sole support forsaid conveyor and the material thereon, means for driving said weighingconveyor, control means responsive to said scale for actuating saidconveyor drive means when a batch of material having a pre-determinedweight has been supplied to said conveyor to discharge said batch fromsaid conveyor, a container supplying conveyor system for successivelyplacing and holding containers at the discharge end of said weighingconveyor as successive batches of material are placed therein, acontainer supporting conveyor disposed at the discharge end of saidweighing conveyor for receiving and supporting containers as successivebatches of material are placed therein and for delivering said containerto an operator of the machine, a motor, an intermittent drive mechanismconnected with said motor driving said container supporting conveyorintermittently at least the width of one container to position an emptycontainer at the discharge end of said weighing conveyor and deliver afilled container out of filling position and for driving said containerbottom supporting conveyor a further distance to deliver said filledcontainer to an operator of the machine in cooperation with saidsupporting conveyor, and said intermittent drive mechanism driving saidcontainer supporting conveyor at a greater rate of speed than saidcontainer supplying conveyor.
 3. A batch weighing machine for weighingsuccessive batches of material and for automatically discharging eachweighed batch, comprising, a weighing scale having a weighing platform,a weighing conveyor disposed for receiving material to be weighed andhaving a discharge end from which weighed batches of material aredischarged, a supporting stand for said conveyor extending downwardlyfrom the conveyor to rest on the scale platform to provide the solesupport for said conveyor and the material thereon, means for drivingsaid weighing conveyor, control means responsive to said scale foractuating said conveyor drive means when a batch of material having apre-determined weight has been supplied to said conveyor to dischargesaid batch from said conveyor, a container supplying conveyor system forsuccessively placing and holding containers at the discharge end of saidweighing conveyor as successive batches of material are placed therein,a container supporting conveyor disposed at the discharge end of saidweighing conveyor for receiving and supporting containers as successivebatches of material are placed therein and for delivering said containerto an operator of the machine, a motor, an intermittent drive mechanismconnected with said motor driving said container supporting conveyorintermittently at least the width of one container to position an emptycontainer at the discharge end of said weighing conveyor and deliver afilled container out of filling position and for driving said containerbottom supporting conveyor a further distance to deliver said filledcontainer to an operator of the machine in cooperation with saidsupporting conveyor, said intermittent drive mechanism comprising, anendless chain, a drive sprocket for said chain, a driven sprocket forsaid chain for driving the continuously driven container bottomsupporting conveyor thereby, a chain segment mounted on said endlesschain in adjacent relationship to the drive engagement portion of saidchain, a pair of guide rollers mounted on either side of said drivensprocket to positively prevent the endless chain from jumping off saiddriven sprocket, and a driven sprocket for engagement with said chainsegment mounted adjacent to said chain driven sprocket forintermittently driving the container supplying conveyor.
 4. Incombination with a platform type floor-supported scale, a batch weighingand bag filling machine for weighing successive batches of material andfor automatically discharging each weighed batch into a bag supported ona conveyor, comprising, a weighing scale having a weighing platform, aweighing conveyor disposed for receiving material to be weighed andhaving a discharge end from which weighed batches of material aredischarged, a supporting stand for said conveyor extending downwardlyfrom the conveyor to rest on the scale platform to provide the solesupport for said conveyor and the material thereon, means for drivingsaid conveyor, control means responsive to said scale for actuating saidconveyor drive means when a batch of material having a pre-determinedweight has been supplied to said conveyor to discharge said batch fromsaid conveyor, said supporting stand constituting a substantiallyinverted U-shaped frame structure positioning said weighing conveyor ata substantial elevation above the platform of said scale, a containersupplying conveyor system disposed under said weighing conveyorextending through the clear space provided by said inverted U-shapedsupporting stand and supported independently thereof for transportingcontainers from a container loading station to the discharge end of theweighing conveyor.
 5. The structure set forth in claim 4 and a feedconveyor delivering material to said weighing conveyor and a fixed stopmember extending across the width of the feed conveyor and having theupper edge spaced a pre-determined distance above the discharge end ofsaid feed conveyor to restrict the flow of material therefrom andpositively stop the discharge of material being fed onto said weighingconveyor when the feed conveyor is stopped.